About to do my first 4EAT Swap. Have a few questions.

[AdventureSubaru]

Been researching, and researching, and researching some more and am looking for confirmation and a little help before i buy/swap a used transmission.

 

The car is a 2000 Legacy Outback with the 2.5 and 4eat. I was originally confused by the online part locators because it listed only the 2000 Outback and SUS as compatible. Now I'm thinking that any Phase II 4EAT should be just fine if it has the same gear ratio. Am I correct in that?

 

If so, it seems that some of the 99 outbacks had Phase II and that any of the 2000-2004 Outbacks should be Phase II with the 4.44 ratio. And I'm told any of the 99-01 Foresters are also Phase II 4.44.

 

Questions are - Is there any difference between the various phase IIs apart from the ratios (4.11 or 4.44) such as speed sensors, wiring harness and such? Or is Phase II a Phase II across all the years and models?

 

The transmission about to be replaced is slipping fairly readily in any gear. If the torque converter doesn't come with the transmission I purchase, would it be beneficial/smart to replace that along the way, or am I probably okay?

 

Got several potential trans/donor parts cars found on craigslist and such. Just want to be sure before I go to all the trouble.

[idosubaru]

i'd be looking for any Phase II 00-04 trans like you said. forester or outback doesn't matter.

 

the H6 trans are different - you want to avoid the VDC models and probably all H6's altogether unless you're looking for extra work or issues. stick with EJ25 is probably what you're after.

 

gear ratio is only concern, if it's a Phase II everything else will be the same.

 

unless there is metal/debris in the fluid or filter i would just reuse the torque converter. every transmission i've bought has always come with the converter though, so you should just get it with.

 

make absolutely sure you know how to seat the torque converter, folks do mess that up and end up bolting the engine and trans together without seating the TC properly and that cracks the oil pump and ruins your "new" trans. seat it properly - the flexplate and torque converter should not touch with the engine/trans bolted together - the flexplate bolts draw them together. if the flexplate/TC start to touch before the engine/trans are mated together it's not seated properly. best to make sure it's right before trying the install anyway to avoid wasting time though. there's a thread with some good pictures - johnceggleston i believe posted it??

[johnceggleston]

99 was a transition year. the outbacks got the phase 2 trans but i don't think all 99s got the phase 2 trans.

 

and if you search thru opposed forces and look at a list of trans code numbers you will see that some are different. i would stick with a trans that has the same first 6 or 7 characters as yours. this is probably going to exclude the 99s.

 

let me explain:

 

the last 3 characters of the code number refer to the car the trans went in to. it may define the speedo gears.

the first 6 character identifies the trans. in the 90s the 7th character defined the final drive ratio, not sure if this holds for the 00+.

 

90 - 98 legacy / impreza trans AWD were all the same trans = TZ102Zxxxx.

96 - 98 2.5L trans were the same, (same as other 2.5L and 2.2L) =TZ102Z2xxx, but they all had a different final drive ratio and they all had a 2 after the second 'Z' .

 

the 99 outback is different TZ1A2Zxxxx.

the 00 outback is different TZ1A4Zxxxx.

 

so stick with a trans that starts off with the same code number as yours, at least the firs 6 characters. then double check the final drive ratio. they can be found on opposedfoprces.com/parts .

 

the link below has a list of 4eat for the 00 2.5L outback. the trans part numbers (different than the 'TZ' code numbers printed on the bell housing) will interchange. you can use any listed on that page, TZ1A4ZCxxx, notice they cover more than one year. when searching for a trans on car-part.com you will have to search each year separately.

 

you can do the same thing for the GT or the Legacy trans but you will have to double check the final drive ratios. in the early 00s i think the gts and the outback had the same ratios and legacy was different. (it may be related to tire size.)

 

http://opposedforces.com/parts/legacy/us_b12/type_21/automatic_transmission/at_transmission_assembly/

 

final drive ratios can be found in ''train'' section of opposedforces.com/parts .

 

if you have a choice, i would get a later year trans, if the price and fit are the same. some of the 99 - 00 (maybe 01) auto trans have a known issue of slow to engage. so avoid them if possible. usually the slow to engage can be corrected with ''trans-x'', but why take the risk if you have another choice.

 

you might try trans-x in your present trans. search for ''trans-x success''. or ''transx trans* fix*'' posted by ''rooster2''.

Edited December 31, 2011 by johnceggleston

[AdventureSubaru]

Sounds good. Craigslist has several good candidates. I should have a good trans in a few days. Is there a writeup on the swap anywhere? Or anything I should know about specific snags in swapping it apart from the torque converter. (been doing some reading. Wish there were more pics.) I haven't done a subaru trans newer than EA81 series yet.

[johnceggleston]

i'm not familiar with a write up, but i just did a 00 engine and there are LOTS of engine to trans bolts, make sure you get them all. do not force the trans and engine apart until you are sure all bolts are out.

 

one thing i do remember, the trans bolt just below the starter. it has to be installed BEFORE the starter is installed. once the starter is in you cannot get a wrench / socket on the trans bolt.

 

the torque converter is the bigg thing. make sure you get that right. i did notice that the TC on the 00 trans (compared to a 95 - 98 trans) appears to sit further out from the bell housing. so i would try and get a measure on the existing set up before pulling the trans.